Sound prospects

Fears that the recession would lead to a drop in livestock numbers at the Royal Welsh Show have been swept aside by record entries for sheep and pigs and for several breeds in the horse section. Totalling 7,583, they are the highest since 2005 and are nearly 900 more than last year when numbers were depleted by blue tongue restrictions.

Record entries for sheep show an increase of nearly 600 on last year to 2,948 representing 44 breeds, and will again comprise the largest display of its kind to be seen in the world - British Texels top the list for individual breeds and 57 entries have been received for the lamb carcass competition.

Cattle entries have increased by 223 over last year to 942 with 192 more in the beef breeds plus an additional 31 dairy animals. British Limousins with 159 entries and Holsteins at 153 head the beef and dairy cattle sections and 138 entries will parade in the commercial beef classes.

Up by 43 on those for the 2008 show, this year's pig entries number 139 led by the Welsh breed with 50.

Goats are making a return numbering 112 dairy goats and 21 Angoras.

Horses and ponies, especially the native Welsh breeds, are always star performers at the Royal Welsh attracting many overseas visitors to the event and this year they are certain to provide another spectacular display with record entries in the Welsh breeds and Ridden Mountain and Moorland classes totalling an incredible 3,421 in all.

The four-day show in a months time runs from Monday, July 20, to Thursday, July 23.

Welsh Blacks do well

The recent breed promotions and public relations for the Welsh Black Cattle have benefited the society at the spring sales with both highest prices and price averages per category up on the trade as compared to 2008.

A happy chief executive officer Mr. Andrew James said:"The cattle entry were of good quality and the demand for the various ages of breeding animals reflected the prices recorded at the sale."

The society acknowledges the hardwork witnessed by cattle breeders who produce top quality animals and who are also prepared to support the society sales and the auctioneers.

Targeted support

The House of Lords EU Committee has recently called for the swift adoption of reforms to the EU Less Favoured Areas scheme - a method of distributing EU agricultural funding to disadvantaged areas where farming land might otherwise be abandoned.

The report stresses that the justification for the LFA scheme is to maintain farming in marginal areas where farming activity generates benefits for the environment and landscape, rather than to compensate for regional economic hardship.

The committee point out that there are other EU funds available that offer more targeted and cost-effective means of addressing the socio-economic problems faced by disadvantaged agricultural regions.

The committee also stress that there should be a continued and vigilant assessment of the public benefit of LFA spending, asserting that 'society does not owe unconditional support to farmers wishing to farm in areas affected by natural handicaps.' They also point out that climate change is likely to have an impact on which areas can and should be helped to maintain farming activity.

Radical?

Members of the NFU in Wales were told recently that expressions of interest to enter the new Glastir scheme would be included on their Single Application Forms next year, but the Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, insists that it is an entirely a voluntary scheme.

The Minister remarked that the NFU had at first described the Glastir Scheme as radical when it was announced.

"Radical can be good or bad and it is my challenge to make it a success by making sure it is good for, and attractive to, the farmers of Wales. If farmers don't buy into the scheme it won't work," she said.

Elin Jones went on the say that she wanted the application process for this new scheme, which was announced last month, to be easy and simple to complete so it didn't add any unnecessary burden. She said her vision was that farmers could go in to their local divisional office and discuss their individual needs before signing any agreement.

Simple maths

Cheaper than the supermarket is the new Big Barn campaign to get more people out of the supermarket and shopping locally.

They insist that there is a common misconception that local food is more expensive and that supermarkets have the buying power to be cheaper on everything. They are not.

They highlight this by stating that one grower sells his onions to a packer for £100 a tonne, only to see them on the supermarket shelf at £820 a week later.

He is now selling to farm shops at £200 and seeing them on the shelf at £400. Everyone's a winner.

Simple maths, but a reality when farm shops have enough business to buy a decent quantity from farmers - so far 388 farm shops have already found that they are cheaper than the supermarket.

The way it is

On the first day, the master created the dog and said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of 20 years."

The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only 10 years and I'll give you back the other 10?"

So the master agreed. 

On the second day, the master created the monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh.. For this, I'll give you a 20 -year life span."

The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for 20 years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back 10 like the dog did?"

And the master agreed.

On the third day, the master created the cow and said: "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of 60 years."

The cow said: "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for 60 years. How about 20 and I'll give back the other 40?"

And the master agreed again.

On the fourth day, the master created a human and said: "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you 20 years."

But the human said: "Only 20 years? Could you possibly give me my 20, the 40 the cow gave back, the 10 the monkey gave back, and the 10 the dog gave back; that makes 80, okay?"

"Okay," said the Master, "You asked for it."

So that is why for our first 20 years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next 40 years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next 10 years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren and for the last 10 years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you. There is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I'm doing it as a public service! 

Think £££s

"I can not stress the importance of inheritance tax planning, it is a very complex issue and farmers must plan now," said Mike Ratcliff, NFU mutual's financial consultant speaking at a meeting of union members.

In addition to explaining the importance of inheritance tax planning when dealing with farm businesses, Mr. Ratcliff also explained in detail the possible ways of maximising the use of agriculture property as a tax relief and clearly outlined the transfer allowance following the death of a spouse.

Farmer Dafydd Jones said: "It has been extremely valuable for members to hear first hand from an expert financial consultant. The clear advice is to get a one to one consultation with a specialist, which is available through the NFU Mutual."

YFC

charity event

I'm told that my good friend Rob Phillips is very busy these days distributing posters and selling tickets for a quite humane sheep racing night which South Pembs. young farmers are going to stage at Windsor.

It's all in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance - a charity that has already helped save so many lives across the country.

Due to its widely scattered population and diverse landscape, many in Wales live in isolated locations without easy access to A&E services. Also, the ever increasing problem of traffic congestion and collisions in more urban areas denotes delayed response times for land ambulances.

For these reasons, there is a recognised need for three helicopters on active duty, 365 days a year, and members of the YFC (and myself) feel that this is an extremely worthwhile charity and do so much good work across the country, funded only by sponsorship.

We need to do all we can to keep it running so please support Rob and his YFC mates at Lamphey on Friday, July 10. Commencing at 7.30 pm, there will be a barbecue, bar, tote on the sheep and entertainment - a fun family event with something for everybody to enjoy while raising a lot of money for such a very worthy cause.